Bespoke Genealogy Research
Professional genealogy and family history research for clients across the UK, USA and worldwide. I help trace ancestors, build and verify family trees, solve DNA and unknown-parentage questions, investigate brick walls and uncover the stories behind historical records. I also specialise in archival research for families connected with Cumbria, historic Cumberland and Westmorland.
Family Tree Reports
Records Research
Brick Wall Breakthroughs
DNA Analysis Support
AncestryDNA's October 2026 update
Changed percentages or a question about DNA by grandparent? Start with the new research guide.
Cumbria specialist research
I have extensive hands-on experience working with Cumbria Archives and researching families across Carlisle, Brampton, Penrith, Whitehaven, Workington, Cockermouth, Kendal, Appleby-in-Westmorland, Barrow and surrounding communities.
Older material may be catalogued under Cumberland, Westmorland, Lancashire North of the Sands or a neighbouring border county. Knowing those historic jurisdictions often determines where the next useful record is likely to be held.
See how that evidence-led approach helped verify a long-standing family story about John Peel of Caldbeck.
Explore Cumbria ResearchLocal expertise includes
From the research files
A client came to me hoping to uncover the origins of James Forster, a nineteenth-century bookbinder whose early life in Cumberland had remained elusive.
Research at Cumbria Archives uncovered a parish-register entry for a child born on exactly the same date and in the same place James later gave as his own — but under the surname Nelson.
What I offer
Local and archival research for families rooted in Cumbria and its historic counties, including regular work with Cumbria Archives.
Explore local research →Research into biological parentage and adoption, using DNA and documentary evidence where appropriate and handling modern family information discreetly.
Learn more →DNA match analysis, family-tree reconstruction and records research for questions that cannot be answered from documents alone.
Learn more →Targeted work in civil, parish, probate, military, migration and other records chosen for the place and period under investigation.
Learn more →When an ancestor disappears or the records conflict, I review the existing research, build a timeline and follow the relatives, places and sources most likely to clarify what happened.
Learn more →Research for American clients and families whose records cross the United States, Britain, Canada and Europe.
Learn more →Reports can include the local, social and occupational background that makes a family history easier to understand and more rewarding to read.
Learn more →Family trees built from checked records, with sources and notes that make it clear how each generation connects to the next.
Learn more →Independent checking of an existing line of descent, with each generational link traced back to the records that support it.
Learn more →Practical research guides
Find civil and parish records, search beyond the expected name spelling and understand the gaps in Irish records.
Explore Irish records Italian genealogySearch by name, browse unindexed Italian civil registers and use handwritten indexes to find the original entry.
Explore Italian records Getting startedGather family clues, work backwards from known ancestors and keep a research log that makes each search useful.
Begin your researchClient stories
"Thank you for my fascinating ancestry report. It was thoughtfully put together and full of insights that really helped me feel closer to my roots. Highly recommend for anyone interested in their family history."— Joccoaa S-G., Hexham
"Brittany is amazing! She was able to track down records which proved the parentage of my mysterious great-great grandfather which I'd been struggling to conclusively track down for years. So glad I found Brittany!"— Chris B., Carlisle
"Brittany was very thorough and explained her research in a way that was exciting but clear. Her passion for genealogy shone through, highly recommend."— Rachael S., Newcastle
"From the first conversation Brittany took the time to understand what I was hoping to discover and I felt that she was just as invested as I was. Updates came regularly, and each piece of information was explained in a clear way that never felt overwhelming. Brittany was transparent about sources, honest about uncertainties, and genuinely excited about the discoveries we made. Thank you!"— Emily B., NW England
Questions & answers
Solving Your Mysteries is an independent genealogy research service. I work with historical records, archives and, when it is useful to the question, DNA evidence.
Projects range from building or checking family trees to unknown-parentage research, long-standing family stories and records that seem to contradict one another. If your question does not fit neatly into a category, you can still send it to me.
Many cases can be researched entirely through records such as censuses, civil certificates, parish registers and probate material. DNA becomes especially useful when parentage is unknown or the documentary trail is thin.
DNA can provide strong evidence of biological relationships. To identify the most likely relationship or ancestor, I interpret those matches alongside family trees, ages, locations and documentary records.
It depends on the complexity of your case. Some answers can be found in a few days, while others may take months of research. Cases involving DNA often take longer due to processing times and the need to analyze matches thoroughly.
A definitive answer is not possible in every case. Records may be missing and DNA evidence may be too distant or incomplete. I will tell you what the evidence supports, what remains uncertain and which further steps are worth considering.
Confidentiality is a top priority. Your information, research findings, and any DNA data are handled with care and never shared without your explicit consent. Sensitive discoveries are communicated thoughtfully and privately.
Unexpected results are not uncommon in this kind of work. If something significant comes up, I’ll present the information carefully, explain what it means, and give you space to decide how you’d like to move forward.
Send whatever you already know: names, approximate dates, places, relationships, family documents and links to any existing tree. A small detail can be enough to point towards the right record set.
Yes, these are some of the most common and meaningful cases I work on. They often involve a mix of DNA analysis and traditional research to identify and confirm biological connections.
You can get in touch through the contact form below with a brief overview of your situation. From there, I’ll let you know what’s possible, what the process would look like, and any next steps.
Get in touch
Use the form to tell me who or what you are trying to find out, and include any useful names, dates or places. I am based in the UK and work with clients in the UK, the US and elsewhere.
Your details are kept strictly private and used only to respond to your enquiry.
How it works
You tell me the question you want answered and send the records, tree or DNA information you already have.
I review the starting evidence, decide which sources are most promising and set out the first stage of work.
I follow the relevant records, relatives, places and DNA matches, keeping a research log as the evidence develops.
I return the findings with source references, an explanation of how I reached them and any worthwhile next searches.
